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Orbital factory achieves 1,000°C milestone
A Cardiff-based startup has successfully activated a compact manufacturing unit in orbit, reaching temperatures of approximately 1,000°C inside its furnace. The breakthrough marks a critical step toward producing high-purity semiconductors in space for terrestrial applications.
Why space manufacturing?
Space Forge, the company behind the project, highlights the unique advantages of microgravity and the vacuum of space for semiconductor production. In these conditions, atoms align with near-perfect precision, eliminating defects that typically occur during Earth-based manufacturing.
Josh Western, CEO of Space Forge, stated that semiconductors produced in orbit could be up to 4,000 times purer than those made on Earth. Such advancements could enhance performance in critical technologies, including 5G infrastructure, electric vehicle chargers, and aviation systems.
From launch to first plasma
The company's prototype factory, roughly the size of a microwave, was launched aboard a SpaceX rocket earlier this year. Since then, engineers at Space Forge's mission control in Cardiff have been remotely testing its systems.
Veronica Viera, the company's payload operations lead, described the moment the team received an image from the satellite's furnace as one of her most thrilling experiences. The photograph showed plasma-gas heated to around 1,000°C-glowing inside the unit.
"This is a fundamental component of our in-space manufacturing process. Demonstrating it successfully is a huge achievement."
Veronica Viera, Payload Operations Lead, Space Forge
Next steps: scaling up and returning materials
Space Forge is now focused on developing a larger orbital factory capable of producing semiconductor material for 10,000 chips. However, a key challenge remains: safely returning the manufactured materials to Earth.
To address this, the company is preparing to test Pridwen, a heat shield named after King Arthur's legendary shield. The shield is designed to protect spacecraft during re-entry, shielding them from the extreme temperatures generated by atmospheric friction.
A growing industry
Space Forge is not alone in exploring orbital manufacturing. Other firms are investigating the production of pharmaceuticals and artificial tissues in space, leveraging the unique environment to create materials impossible to replicate on Earth.
Libby Jackson, head of space exploration at the Science Museum, emphasized the significance of these early experiments. While current efforts remain small-scale, she noted that proving the technology's viability could pave the way for economically sustainable space-based production.
"In-space manufacturing is no longer a concept of the future-it's happening now. These advancements could lead to products that benefit everyone on Earth."
Libby Jackson, Head of Space Exploration, Science Museum
